The British oil company, BP, announced its 4th quarter earnings today, and its net profit was about a billion dollars lower than a year earlier. BP has been shrinking as assets have been sold off to pay for its liabilities tied to the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

MONTAGNE: Billions more could flow out of the company this year. A civil penalties trial is due to begin in New Orleans later this month. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.